Major Martin Delany

Major Martin Delany (1812-1885) was a pioneering Black American abolitionist, physician, and military officer. Born in 1812 in Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia), he became one of the first Black students admitted to Harvard Medical School, though racist opposition forced him to leave. A staunch advocate for Black self-sufficiency, he co-edited The North Star with Frederick Douglass and later promoted Black American emigration.

During the Civil War, Delany was commissioned as the first Black major in the U.S. Army, personally appointed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. He worked to recruit and lead Black troops, believing military service was key to Black American advancement. After the war, Delany remained politically active, fighting for civil rights and Reconstruction efforts. Though his views on Black nationalism were controversial, Delany’s leadership, intellect, and activism made him a crucial figure in Black American history and the struggle for equality.

The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of Black American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.

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